Frank Barlow Osborn

106-110 Edmund Street, Birmingham of 1895 for W.M. Smythe Solicitors' offices

Frank Barlow Osborn FRIBA (June 1840 - 6 April 1907) was an English architect based in Birmingham. ^[1]

Life

He was articled to Charles Edge and then transferred to Samuel Sanders Teulon. He started his own practice in 1864 and was in partnership with Alfred Reading from 1876. This partnership was dissolved in 1891. ^[2] At this date, he was based at 13 Bennett’s Hill, Birmingham.

One of his pupils was Thomas Walter Francis Newton who went into practice with Alfred Edward Cheatle and built many arts and crafts style buildings in Birmingham.

He was appointed Fellow of the Royal British Institute of Architects in 1872, and was President of the Birmingham Institute of Architects.

Works

• Palm House, Birmingham Botanical Gardens 1871
• Bandstand, Birmingham Botanical Gardens 1873
• St Margaret’s Church, Ladywood 1875
• St Cyprian's Church, Hay Mills 1878
• St Catherine's Church, Nechells 1878
• 8-10 Tenby Street, Birmingham 1879
• Black Lion Pub, Essex Street, Birmingham 1879 - 1880
• The Clock House (also Fockbury House), Fockbury, Worcestershire 1880 (expansion)
• Thorp Street drill hall, Birmingham 1881
• Theatre Royal, Regent Grove, Leamington Spa 1882 ^[3]
• Buildings for the Smithfield Market, Jamaica Row to Moat Lane 1883 ^[4]
• Rectory for St Philip’s Church, Temple Row, Birmingham 1886 ^[5]
• Conservative Club, Temple Row, Birmingham 1886 ^[6]
• Edgbaston Vestry Hall and Rate Office, Islington Row, Birmingham 1886 ^[7]
• Methodist Central Hall, Corporation Street, Birmingham 1887 (replaced in 1900)
• St James' Parish Church, Norton Canes 1887-88 ^[8] (rebuilding after a fire)
• All Saints' Church, Kirkby Mallory 1888 ^[9] (restoration)
• Office building, Sheepcote Street, Birmingham 1890
• Christ Church, Quinton, Birmingham 1890 restoration
• St Thomas Mission Hall, Ellis Street 1891
• St. Thomas' Church, Birmingham 1893 restoration
• London and Midland Bank, High Street/Little Park Street, Coventry 1894 ^[10]
• W.M. Smythe Solicitors' offices, 29 Newhall Street/106-110 Edmund Street, Birmingham 1895
• Extension to the Royal Institution for Deaf and Dumb Children, Church Road, Edgbaston 1899
• Extension to the Birmingham Smithfield Vegetable Market 1903 ^[11]
• St Peter's Church, Spring Hill 1902

References

1. Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. RIBA. 2001.
2. "Notice is Hereby Given". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham. 5 February 1891. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
3. "Leamington" . Building News. England. 20 May 1882. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. "Birmingham" . Building News. England. 7 September 1883. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
5. "Birmingham Architectural Association" . Building News. England. 15 October 1886. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Birmingham Architectural Association" . Building News. England. 4 February 1887. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Fund" . Harborne Herald. England. 29 January 1887. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "Reopening of Norton Canes Church" . Lichfield Mercury. England. 26 October 1888. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
9. "Church restoration at Kirkby Mallory" . Birmingham Daily Post. England. 16 October 1888. Retrieved 27 January 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "Coventry". Coventry Herald. Coventry. 12 October 1894. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
11. "Extension of the Vegetable Market". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham. 27 July 1900. Retrieved 7 March 2015.